Can statins reduce mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients? A retrospective cohort study

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic and baseline patients’ characteristics.

Variables		Statin, N (%)	No statin, N (%)	p-value
Age (year), Mean ± SD		60.8 ± 14.6	61.3 ± 14.9	0.523
Age categories (year)	20 − 39	99 (10.6%)	95 (10.2%)	0.738
	40 − 59	283 (30.4%)	276 (29.7%)
	60 − 79	477 (51.3%)	475 (51.1%)
	≥80	71 (7.6%)	84 (9.0%)
Sex	Male	544 (58.5%)	556 (59.8%)	0.571
	Female	386 (41.5%)	374 (40.2%)
Obesity		616 (66.2%)	624 (67.1%)	0.694
Hypertension		409 (44.0%)	420 (45.2%)	0.608
Diabetes mellitus		250 (26.9%)	223 (24.0%)	0.151
Serum cholesterol (mg/dL), (Mean ± SD)		270.4 ± 17.9	271.1 ± 18.4	0.417
CORADS	IV	350 (37.6%)	345 (37.1%)	0.811
	V	580 (62.4%)	585 (62.9%)

Notes: Data are presented as mean ± SD or number of patients and percentage. P-values are based on the independent-test or chi-square test.

Abbreviations: SD: standard deviation; N: number; CORADS: COVID-19 CO-RADS classification.

Table 2. Stroke, angina, renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, the need for ventilator support, and the in-hospital mortality.

Events	Subgroups	Statin, N (%)	No statin, N (%)	p-value	Relative effect RR (95% CI)
Stroke	Obesity	9 (1.5%)	18 (2.9%)	0.086	0.51 (0.23–1.12)
	No obesity	4 (1.3%)	3 (1.0%)	0.999	1.30 (0.29–5.76)
	HTN	7 (1.7%)	9 (2.1%)	0.652	0.80 (0.30–2.12)
	No HTN	6 (1.2%)	12 (2.4%)	0.141	0.49 (0.19–1.29)
	DM	5 (2.0%)	5 (2.2%)	0.552	0.89 (0.26–3.04)
	No DM	8 (1.2%)	16 (2.3%)	0.121	0.52 (0.22–1.21)
	All cases	13 (1.4%)	21 (2.3%)	0.166	0.62 (0.31–1.23)
Angina	Obesity	8 (1.3%)	11 (1.8%)	0.506	0.74 (0.30–1.82)
	No obesity	3 (1.0%)	7 (2.3%)	0.217	0.42 (0.11–1.60)
	HTN	4 (1.0%)	9 (2.1%)	0.177	0.46 (0.14–1.47)
	No HTN	7 (1.3%)	9 (1.8%)	0.623	0.76 (0.29–2.03)
	DM	5 (2.0%)	8 (3.6%)	0.292	0.56 (0.19–1.68)
	No DM	6 (0.9%)	10 (1.4%)	0.354	0.62 (0.23–1.71)
	All cases	11 (1.2%)	18 (1.9%)	0.190	0.61 (0.29–1.29)
Renal failure	Obesity	2 (0.3%)	7 (1.1%)	0.178	0.29 (0.06–1.39)
	No obesity	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0.620	0.49 (0.04–5.35)
	HTN	1 (0.2%)	4 (1.0%)	0.374	0.26 (0.03–2.29)
	No HTN	2 (0.4%)	5 (1.0%)	0.244	0.39 (0.08–2.01)
	DM	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.8%)	0.153	0.22 (0.03–1.98)
	No DM	2 (0.3%)	5 (0.7%)	0.453	0.42 (0.08–2.14)
	All cases	3 (0.3%)	9 (1.0%)	0.082	0.33 (0.09–1.23)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome	Obesity	104 (16.9%)	110 (17.6%)	0.728	0.96 (0.75–1.22)
	No obesity	37 (11.8%)	52 (17.0%)	0.064	0.69 (0.47–1.03)
	HTN	69 (16.9%)	78 (18.6%)	0.521	0.91 (0.68–1.22)
	No HTN	72 (13.8%)	84 (16.5%)	0.235	0.84 (0.63–1.12)
	DM	47 (18.8%)	38 (17.0%)	0.619	1.10 (0.75–1.63)
	No DM	94 (13.8%)	124 (17.5%)	0.057	0.79 (0.62–1.01)
	All cases	141 (15.2%)	162 (17.4%)	0.187	0.87 (0.71–1.07)
Septic shock	Obesity	88 (14.3%)	101 (16.2%)	0.352	0.88 (0.68–1.15)
	No obesity	40 (12.7%)	46 (15.0%)	0.409	0.85 (0.57–1.26)
	HTN	63 (15.4%)	73 (17.4%)	0.442	0.89 (0.65–1.21)
	No HTN	65 (12.5%)	74 (14.5%)	0.339	0.86 (0.63–1.17)
	DM	35 (14.0%)	35 (15.7%)	0.604	0.89 (0.58–1.37)
	No DM	93 (13.7%)	112 (15.8%)	0.256	0.86 (0.67–1.11)
	All cases	128 (13.8%)	147 (15.8%)	0.215	0.87 (0.70–1.08)
Need to ventilator support	Obesity	349 (56.7%)	366 (58.7%)	0.476	0.97 (0.88–1.06)
	No obesity	150 (47.8%)	156 (51.0%)	0.424	0.94 (0.80–1.10)
	HTN	246 (60.1%)	266 (63.3%)	0.345	0.95 (0.85–1.06)
	No HTN	253 (48.6%)	256 (50.2%)	0.599	0.97 (0.85–1.09)
	DM	171 (68.4%)	156 (70.0%)	0.715	0.98 (0.87–1.10)
	No DM	328 (48.2%)	366 (51.8%)	0.188	0.93 (0.84–1.04)
	All cases	499 (53.7%)	522 (56.1%)	0.284	0.96 (0.88–1.04)
in-hospital mortality	Obesity	274 (44.5%)	333 (53.4%)	0.002*	0.83 (0.74–0.93)
	No obesity	104 (33.1%)	127 (41.5%)	0.031*	0.80 (0.65–0.98)
	HTN	176 (43.0%)	218 (51.9%)	0.011*	0.83 (0.72–0.96)
	No HTN	202 (38.8%)	242 (47.5%)	0.005*	0.82 (0.71–0.94)
	DM	99 (39.6%)	112 (50.2%)	0.020*	0.79 (0.64–0.96)
	No DM	279 (41.0%)	348 (49.2%)	0.002*	0.83 (0.74–0.94)
	All cases	378 (40.6%)	460 (49.5%)	<0.001*	0.82 (0.74–0.91)

Notes: Data are presented as number and percentage. P-values are based on the Chi square test or Fisher’s Exact test. *: Significant at p < 0.05.

Abbreviations: DM: diabetes mellitus; HTN: hypertension; RR: relative risk; CI: confidence interval.

Table 3. The length of intensive care unit stay (day).

Subgroup	Statin (Mean ± SD)	No statin (Mean ± SD)	p-value	Relative effect
				Mean ± SE	95% CI
Non-survivors
Obesity	11.1 ± 4.2	9.4 ± 6.8	<0.001*	1.7 ± 0.5	0.8–2.6
No obesity	12.0 ± 4.2	10.2 ± 4.0	0.001*	1.8 ± 0.5	0.8–2.9
HTN	11.4 ± 4.1	10.1 ± 7.0	0.022*	1.3 ± 0.6	0.2–2.4
No HTN	11.3 ± 4.3	9.2 ± 5.4	<0.001*	2.1 ± 0.5	1.2–3.1
DM	11.1 ± 4.4	9.0 ± 5.2	0.003*	2.0 ± 0.7	0.7–3.3
No DM	11.5 ± 4.1	9.8 ± 6.5	<0.001*	1.7 ± 0.4	0.8–2.5
All cases	11.4 ± 4.2	9.6 ± 6.2	<0.001*	1.7 ± 0.4	1.0–2.5
Survivors
Obesity	10.8 ± 6.0	14.5 ± 8.0	<0.001*	−3.8 ± 0.6	−4.9–-2.6
No obesity	10.3 ± 3.9	11.6 ± 5.6	0.008*	−1.3 ± 0.5	−2.2–-0.3
HTN	10.8 ± 4.5	13.5 ± 6.4	<0.001*	−2.7 ± 0.5	−3.7–-1.6
No HTN	10.4 ± 5.8	13.4 ± 8.0	<0.001*	−2.9 ± 0.6	−4.0–-1.8
DM	11.1 ± 6.9	14.4 ± 6.2	<0.001*	−3.3 ± 0.8	−4.9–-1.6
No DM	10.4 ± 4.5	13.1 ± 7.6	<0.001*	−2.7 ± 0.5	−3.6–-1.8
All cases	10.6 ± 5.3	13.4 ± 7.3	<0.001*	−2.8 ± 0.4	−3.6–-2.0

Notes: Data are presented as Mean ± SD. P-values are based on the independent-test *: Significant at p < 0.05.

Abbreviations: DM: diabetes mellitus; HTN: hypertension; SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; CI: confidence interval; ICU: intensive care unit.

Table 4. Duration of mechanical ventilation (day).

Subgroup	Statin (Mean ± SD)	No statin (Mean ± SD)	p-value	Relative effect
				Mean ± SE	95% CI
Non-survivors
Obesity	8.6 ± 2.7	8.1 ± 2.9	0.094	0.4 ± 0.2	−0.1–0.9
No obesity	9.2 ± 2.9	9.1 ± 3.0	0.840	0.1 ± 0.4	−0.7–0.9
HTN	8.7 ± 2.7	8.4 ± 3.0	0.204	0.4 ± 0.3	−0.2–1.0
No HTN	8.7 ± 2.8	8.5 ± 3.0	0.485	0.2 ± 0.3	−0.4–0.8
DM	8.7 ± 2.6	8.7 ± 3.1	0.926	0.0 ± 0.4	−0.8–0.9
No DM	8.7 ± 2.8	8.4 ± 2.9	0.127	0.4 ± 0.2	−0.1–0.9
All cases	8.7 ± 2.8	8.43 ± 3.0	0.166	0.3 ± 0.2	−0.1–0.7
Survivors
Obesity	9.3 ± 2.5	9.8 ± 2.8	0.193	−0.5 ± 0.4	−1.3–0.3
No obesity	10.5 ± 2.6	9.7 ± 2.5	0.161	0.8 ± 0.5	−0.3–1.9
HTN	9.6 ± 2.6	9.9 ± 2.7	0.437	−0.3 ± 0.4	−1.2–0.5
No HTN	9.9 ± 2.6	9.5 ± 2.7	0.468	0.4 ± 0.5	−0.6–1.3
DM	9.2 ± 2.2	9.9 ± 2.8	0.142	−0.7 ± 0.4	−1.6–0.2
No DM	10.2 ± 2.8	9.7 ± 2.6	0.277	0.5 ± 0.5	−0.4–1.4
All cases	9.7 ± 2.6	9.8 ± 2.7	0.889	0.0 ± 0.3	−0.7–0.6

Notes: Data are presented as Mean ± SD. P-values are based on the independent t-test.

Abbreviations: DM: diabetes mellitus; HTN: hypertension; SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; CI: confidence interval.

Table 5. D-dimer and serum ferritin.

Subgroup	Statin (Mean ± SD)	No statin (Mean ± SD)	p-value	Relative effect
				Mean ± SE	95% CI
Average D-dimer (µg/mL)
Obesity	0.82 ± 0.33	0.84 ± 0.47	0.177	−0.03 ± 0.02	−0.06–0.01
No obesity	0.81 ± 0.32	0.84 ± 0.48	0.198	−0.03 ± 0.02	−0.08–0.02
HTN	0.83 ± 0.33	0.85 ± 0.45	0.603	−0.02 ± 0.03	−0.08–0.05
No HTN	0.83 ± 0.35	0.87 ± 0.48	0.207	−0.04 ± 0.03	−0.09–0.02
DM	0.81 ± 0.31	0.83 ± 0.46	0.521	−0.02 ± 0.02	−0.06–0.03
No DM	0.79 ± 0.30	0.83 ± 0.48	0.294	−0.04 ± 0.04	−0.11–0.03
All cases	0.83 ± 0.33	0.85 ± 0.47	0.371	−0.02 ± 0.02	−0.06–0.02
Maximum D-dimer (µg/mL)
Obesity	1.49 ± 0.32	1.51 ± 0.48	0.269	−0.03 ± 0.02	−0.07–0.02
No obesity	1.51 ± 0.33	1.52 ± 0.45	0.698	−0.01 ± 0.03	−0.08–0.05
HTN	1.50 ± 0.35	1.53 ± 0.48	0.286	−0.03 ± 0.03	−0.09–0.03
No HTN	1.49 ± 0.31	1.50 ± 0.46	0.608	−0.01 ± 0.02	−0.06–0.04
DM	1.47 ± 0.30	1.50 ± 0.48	0.437	−0.03 ± 0.04	−0.10–0.04
No DM	1.50 ± 0.33	1.52 ± 0.47	0.429	−0.02 ± 0.02	−0.06–0.03
All cases	1.49 ± 0.33	1.51 ± 0.47	0.262	−0.02 ± 0.02	−0.06–0.02
Average ferritin (ng/mL)
Obesity	648.1 ± 255.9	700.3 ± 281.4	0.001*	−52.3 ± 15.3	−82.2–-22.3
No obesity	622.0 ± 244.4	678.6 ± 274.0	0.007*	−56.6 ± 20.8	−97.5–-15.7
HTN	666.0 ± 245.6	728.3 ± 284.7	0.001*	−62.3 ± 18.5	−98.5–-26.1
No HTN	618.2 ± 255.6	664.2 ± 271.2	0.005*	−46.0 ± 16.4	−78.2–-13.8
DM	657.6 ± 280.9	733.0 ± 280.4	0.004*	−75.4 ± 25.9	−126.2–-24.6
No DM	632.5 ± 240.7	680.6 ± 277.6	0.001*	−48.1 ± 13.9	−75.5–-20.8
All cases	639.2 ± 252.3	693.2 ± 279.0	<0.001*	−53.9 ± 12.3	−78.1–-29.7
Maximum ferritin (ng/mL)
Obesity	934.1 ± 235.8	973.6 ± 251.1	0.004*	−39.5 ± 13.8	−66.6–-12.3
No obesity	909.9 ± 226.1	953.3 ± 244.3	0.022*	−43.4 ± 18.9	−80.5–-6.3
HTN	952.8 ± 226.7	998.8 ± 253.7	0.006*	−46.0 ± 16.7	−78.8–-13.2
No HTN	904.8 ± 235.5	940.6 ± 242.0	0.016*	−35.8 ± 14.9	−65.0–-6.6
DM	940.0 ± 257.9	1004.9 ± 251.3	0.006*	−64.9 ± 23.5	−111.1–-18.8
No DM	920.7 ± 222.8	954.9 ± 247.1	0.007*	−34.1 ± 12.6	−58.9–-9.4
All cases	925.9 ± 232.7	966.9 ± 248.9	<0.001*	−41.0 ± 11.2	−62.9–-19.1

Notes: Data are presented as Mean ± SD. P-values are based on the independent-test.*: Significant at p < 0.05.

Abbreviations: DM: diabetes mellitus; HTN: hypertension; SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; CI: confidence interval.